People with disabilities using their voice at the polls

More people with disabilities are exercising their right to vote and making a difference. A new study conducted by two Rutgers University professors, Lisa Schur and Douglas Kruse, found that 14.7 million people with disabilities (57%) cast their ballots in 2008, while 64% of people without disabilities voted. While people with disabilities are still voting at lower rates than the rest of the American population, the gap is closing, research shows.  

In 2010, among those that were eligible to vote, people with disabilities voted at a rate of 42.8% while people without disabilities voted a rate of 45.5%. As you can see, people with disabilities are making a significant contribution to the political process in our country. Despite the many barriers that people with disabilities face while trying to vote such as inaccessible buildings and transportation, they are making their presence known.

Click here, to read the full study.

In honor of Election Day, we would also like to highlight the state of Oregon for its effort in making voting more accessible for people with disabilities. County election workers are using iPads to help people vote by going to parks, nursing homes, community centers and other places that might have people who need assistance with voting. Check out what Oregon is doing to get more people with disabilities to the polls-this may be an idea worth pursuing in other areas of the country.